Is the Mazda 6 really a full size ?

It's nice seeing what an employee thinks (very little) of the company's best customers, too.

The UK, too. I get such good service with Hertz there, I usually rent with Thrifty. I've never gotten an upgrade in the six years I've traveled to various airports there. Been told point-blank "we don't DO that."

I have the "Gold" equivalent with other groups. I think I will probably go with National more often since you can pick your own cars there.

But thanks for the data points, it just validates what I've already seen.

That's hilarious, olivetti, insulting customers on a public forum... probably not the smartest career move. especially after you have said that you represent the hertz corporation as a manager, those public relations departments tend to get upset about things like that.

I'm glad that everyone else likes this info, if anyone else has time to contribute, please do.

Thanks

In my experience Enterprise has called it a "standard" size, but National bills it as a fullsize. However, Hertz has right on their website "Midsize - Mazda6 or similar."

Being that a Mazda6 is very similar to a Mazda6, it's safe to say you were downgraded. You should've gone and asked them, I'd have loved to see them try and talk their way out of that one. :D

Has anyone compared anything other than the vehicle upgrades?
 

OK it's an interesting comparison to see which company gives you the better car, but for me, my time is more important than whether I drive a Camry or a Mazda 6 or a gas hogging SUV.
I recently decided to try Enterprise and National since they became part of company policy.
I won't go back to them; they make you fill out a ton of paperwork both when picking up and when dropping off (it's like Hertz in the early 90's); with Hertz Gold, you walk to your car and drive off (giving me an extra half hour to do something useful).
I haven't tried Avis yet; how are they?

Um, you mean to say Enterprise makes you fill out paperwork. With National if you join Emerald Club you can walk out to the parkade and choose your own car, so its like Hertz Gold but with choice.

I've only rented from Avis twice, and both times they were absolutely outstanding. I felt like they really cared about their customers, they were personable, good selection of cars to choose from, etc. If it weren't for their $35/day underage fee in Canada I'd have rented from them more often.

That said, not everyone is having the greatest experiences with them these days as can be seen on the Avis board. Have a read through there and that should answer your question. From what I've read Avis seems to be hit or miss depending on location.

I read this posts and and have not read where someone has gone up and asked for another vehicle nicely.

The "picker" sits in the office and assigns keys. Doesnt go inspect the vehicle to personally see if it is OK for you! Pretty sure they look at the Res., see status, assign vehicle....next....

I walk out and dont like my car, I walk back or drive back and say I dont want it. 99% of the time I get something else. I am nice and say " I dont care for this car, it is a little rough looking" or "This is just not very comfortable for me to drive." All you have to do is be nice and ask. Dont be like "Avis has a DTS for me and you want me to drive a Grand Marq." I would tell you to shove off too. You think Avis is better then rent there. Just dont come crying back when you get a crap wagon every once and a while...

If people think a Dodge Magnum is better than a Camry, even a roughed up Camry, they are crazy...imo. You cant see out of that thing to save you life. If it is the base 2.7 or even the 3.5L forget about moving, you would be better to push it to get that thing to move.

But sorry I have to run to the airport now to get the keys to my AVIS Caddy, Hummer or Ferrari because that is all they ever have waiting for people apparently....Never hear anyone in the Hertz Forum getting a Cobalt, Focus, Camry or any other normal vehicle.

The 08 Mazda is a C or YC vehicle. The new 09 6 is bigger and wider and much better maybe a D or even F now...

Avis is the same as hertz. You either go out and the keys are in the car, or you goto a booth show your id, and are given the keys, no paperwork...

Yeah the magnum wasn't the best car I had even driven... I just had never driven one...

A lot of times previously I have gone and done the car swap dance, but thats the squeeky wheel getting the grease, I want to be taken care of because I rent 75 cars a year. 15 minutes per rental asking for an upgrade by 75 rentals = 18.75 hours a YEAR car swapping.

For some reason the last couple times when I have said I didn't like the car and I wanted to cancel my reservation the answer is "OK" (no offer of upgrade). One time I was so pissed off that the hertz rental clerk was being rude to me, I walked like 8 feet to the Avis counter and took whatever they had on the lot. When I went back to the airport on my way out, and complained to the manager I was given a $25 voucher for my troubles...

But that was the reason to start this experiment, test how we are treated by default, so we don't have to waste time asking for upgrades or making 2 reservations. The funny thing is, it takes less time to make 2 reservations and check them out then to go ask for an upgrade, especially if there is any type of line.

Ha! You think Hertz is bad in the land of the free and the home of the brave? :D

Try up here in the Great White North! I won't even get into the HLE's.. but all of the airports BLOW (with the exception of YYZ which is not bad sometimes)... YVR, YOW (HLE-like), YUL, YYC... they usually give me crap even though "Hi-Vol" is always written on the Hertz PC sleeve (I'm a PC too).

I've always found that U.S. airports are great... I am rarely ever disappointed! Count your blessings! :D

Hmm.. maybe I should switch to Avis? :eek:

That's the point I was making. I agree with you that the "picker" won't know about every imperfection on the 5,000+ vehicles in an airport fleet, but thye should have a sense of what people want and what status means. If it's a #1 Gold that rents twice a year, give them a base Camry or Impala. If it's a PC renter with 75 rentals, make sure they get something with leather seats or other "goodies". Of course there are times when the agency has to just give out what they have. But when someone can plainly see a brand new Impala LTZ going to a non-status member as their PC car is a base model with 25,000+ miles, that's not carlessness, that's carelessness.

It's tough for them to defend it as a fullsize car when the webiste clearly shows the Mazda6 as an example midsize. On the other hand, online it shows the old generation in the example photo. Maybe they're upsizing the new one and haven't bother to update the website; Hertz isn't known for site accuracy in my books (the airport near me still says a Volvo S60 is a Green Collection car despite my e-mail...)

Humperdink, what kind of Mazda6 was in your stall? (Photo samples below)

Was it the old generation?
Or the new one?

Totally agree with you on this one. Manners would be nice, it's not like it's a god given right to get an upgrade, these customers moan about a car and then belittle our staff because they 'want' something else or 'you don't care about me blah blah blah' or I'm going to chuck my dummy out the pram and go to Avis' like we care.... get a life..... Do you book two of the same flights to the same place, with different airlines just to see what you can get for nothing?


Yes we know you're comparing services but if you don't like what you're getting or not getting for nothing then go elsewhere. It's not rocket science.
I normally try to post helpful things on the Hertz forum but some threads that are started seem to make 'libelous' comments, 'belittle' staff or the company, yet still rent from Hertz.
It feels nice to be able to air staff opinions somewhere that customers can see. You may not like what I write, I don't wish to offend but sometimes customers can be rude and to turn up for a reservation and then look at a member of staff like they are a piece of .... when they don't want/like the car offered.

I think this thread is an interesting experiment and have been reading this thread with interest.... probably helps to open corporate eyes a little as to why they should put 'no show' charges on rental cars :P. I also appreciate that olivetti has continued to respond despite some negative comments - however I think that Hertz corporate should perhaps appreciate the general theme in this thread.

In general I (And many other PCs/Gold members) of Hertz don't necessarily feel that the corporation makes any attempt to recognise that we direct large sums of money to Hertz on a regular basis (and admittedly this may often be our employer's money - but we make the choice not to take taxis/avis/national etc). I also think that the original thinking here is probably a good thing as it makes the companies you choose compete for your business in a way that would switch the balance of power from the hire car company (we’ll give him the cheapest car we can!) to the individual (I want the best car for my driving experience) – especially now, when times are hard, good customer service can mean the extra income that might otherwise not be available (and most business customers are not totally price focused, service can make a difference). I feel that Hertz may be proud to go to Wall Street “we can run our fleet for longer, look at how it helps our quarter” – but that sure as hell doesn’t make me feel valued on a Monday morning as I pick up a car with 35k miles on the clock that shakes when I go at 70mph on the motorway (last week, don’t ask). Having said that, other companies I travel with (airline, hotel) also do well at quarter end, but I don’t feel like a sucker when I get my preferred seat, a room upgrade, a free snack etc. Oh – and I also enjoy checking into a hotel on my Monday night to see what ‘special’ room I might get this week! – anyone feel like that when picking up a Hertz car? For me it is more like trepidation.

I think potentially what could help from Hertz is a 'comments' box on any reservation, and an encouragement for Hertz staff to read it prior to a reservation. One person's upgrade (e.g. to an SUV) may be another’s downgrade. For example - I'll happily take a car that stinks of smoke and has 35k miles on the clock if it’s an expensive car or something that Hertz doesn't normally stock – however I feel disappointed when a class C rental at a location that is supposedly covered by the Hertz PC upgrade guarantee gives me a Ford Focus (boring car I’ve driven 100s of times before) with 35k miles on the clock. I think you can ring up and ask for notes on a car, but, does anyone feel they are read? And also my internet reservations don’t have this option. However, beyond a complex list of ‘demands’ on my reservation (I’ll take a focus if it has less than 100 miles on the clock, but would prefer a Vauxhall etc).. The real solution is an ‘online checkin’ that allows me to choose the car rather than the agent, or something similar to national where you choose the car from a reasonable selection.

Good luck with the experiment!

PS: Almost nothing excuses being horrible to staff that are often not in a position to do anything about a corporate decision - far better to complain higher up the food chain where it might be more noticed and you aren't making someone unhappy who is probably getting close to minimum wage handing you your car keys

Hey I rent from YUL all the time, but since they've gotten to know me, they treat me quite well... don't know about the weekly crew, but the weekend crew always gives me #1 service.